Numbers 26 27

Numbers 26:27 kjv

These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.

Numbers 26:27 nkjv

These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them: sixty thousand five hundred.

Numbers 26:27 niv

These were the clans of Zebulun; those numbered were 60,500.

Numbers 26:27 esv

These are the clans of the Zebulunites as they were listed, 60,500.

Numbers 26:27 nlt

These were the clans of Zebulun. Their registered troops numbered 60,500.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 27 Meaning

This verse details the specific families within the tribe of Zebulun that were enumerated in the second census of Israel. It lists the families descending from Zebulun's sons: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel. The act of numbering these families underscores the divine organization and meticulous record-keeping of God concerning His covenant people, preparing them for the promised inheritance in Canaan.

Numbers 26 27 Context

Numbers 26 describes the second census of the Israelites, conducted on the plains of Moab just before they entered the Promised Land. This census followed a devastating plague and a generation of disobedience, contrasting sharply with the first census in Numbers 1. Its primary purpose was to count the new generation (males twenty years and older) who would inherit the land, providing a basis for tribal land distribution (Num 26:52-56). The genealogical details for each tribe, including Zebulun in verse 27, reaffirm God's faithfulness to His covenant promises of multiplying Abraham's descendants and giving them a land. It establishes order and identity among the tribes, critical for the impending conquest and settlement.

Numbers 26 27 Word analysis

• These are: (וְאֵלֶּה, ve'elleh) – A standard Hebrew introductory phrase marking a transition to a new list or section. It emphasizes a precise presentation of facts.
• the families: (מִשְׁפָּחוֹת, mishpachot) – Plural of mishpachah. Refers to family units, often extended clans that form subdivisions within a tribe. This highlights the importance of social and genealogical structures in Israel, crucial for identity, inheritance, and governance. God deals with Israel not just as an amorphous mass, but as an organized body of distinct family lines.
• of the Zebulunites: (הַזְּבֻלוּנִי, haZevuluni) – Identifying the specific tribe, descended from Zebulun, Jacob's tenth son (Gen 30:20). Maintaining tribal distinction was essential for tribal land distribution (Josh 19:10-16) and prophecy fulfillment.
• according to those who were numbered of them: (לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם, lifkudeihem) – Lit. "according to their numbers" or "their appointed ones/countings." The root פָּקַד (paqad) means to visit, number, or oversee. This is not just a statistical count, but an enrollment implying divine oversight, purpose, and official authorization. It indicates that these families were precisely counted and acknowledged by God's decree.
• of Sered: (סֶרֶד, Sered) – The first son of Zebulun (Gen 46:14). His name might derive from a word meaning "escape" or "dread," but its specific connotation in this context points simply to the family progenitor.
• the family of the Seredites: (מִשְׁפַּחַת הַסַּרְדִּי, mishpachat haSardi) – Specifies the descendants forming a distinct clan from Sered. The repetition of "the family of the X-ites" (a gentilic form) for each son emphasizes the meticulous nature of the record, clearly delineating each lineage.
• of Elon: (אֵלוֹן, Elon) – The second son of Zebulun (Gen 46:14). The name means "oak" or "terebinth tree," common names associated with strength or longevity.
• the family of the Elonites: (מִשְׁפַּחַת הָאֵלוֹנִי, mishpachat haEloni) – Confirms the descendants of Elon as a recognized family unit.
• of Jahleel: (יַחְלְאֵל, Jachle'el) – The third son of Zebulun (Gen 46:14). The name might mean "God waits," "God hopes," or "God is weak." In naming, the first is more probable.
• the family of the Jahleelites: (מִשְׁפַּחַת הַיַּחְלְאֵלִי, mishpachat haYachle'eli) – Completes the enumeration of Zebulun's primary family subdivisions.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "These are the families...according to those who were numbered of them": This phrase introduces a detailed, officially sanctioned list, underscoring the divine order and specificity of God's interaction with Israel. The census was a divine act of enrollment for a clear purpose—to prepare them for inheritance and maintain proper structure for the theocracy.
• "of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites": The meticulous listing of each specific family group, repeating the structure for each son, emphasizes the comprehensive and detailed knowledge God has of His people. It ensures that every distinct lineage, down to its primary branches, is acknowledged, preserved, and prepared to receive its inheritance. It confirms the continuity of their identity despite forty years of wilderness wandering and the death of the previous generation.

Numbers 26 27 Bonus section

The overall census in Numbers 26 reveals that the tribe of Zebulun experienced a notable increase in its population from the first census (57,400 in Num 1:31 to 60,500 in Num 26:27), signifying God's continued blessing and faithfulness even amidst the tribulations and plagues in the wilderness. This census, including the detailed breakdown of Zebulun's families, established the necessary framework for military conscription for the upcoming conquest and, crucially, for the future division of the land by lot "according to the number of names" (Num 26:53). The continuity of these family lines from Genesis (Gen 46:14) through Numbers into the settlement in Joshua highlights the meticulous preservation of identity fundamental to the biblical narrative of salvation history and covenant fulfillment.

Numbers 26 27 Commentary

Numbers 26:27 is seemingly a mundane list, yet it carries profound theological weight. It demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, specifically regarding the multiplication of Abraham's seed and their inheritance of the land. Despite the wilderness wanderings, divine judgment on the rebellious generation, and various challenges, God maintained and meticulously recorded the continuity of His chosen people, preserving their tribal and familial identities. This meticulous detail serves to validate each family's claim to future land allocations, ensuring a divinely ordered distribution of the inheritance. It underscores that God is a God of order, precision, and personal knowledge, knowing each family and its distinct place within His greater plan. For believers, this speaks to God's careful oversight and acknowledgment of every individual within His spiritual family, the Church. Just as each physical family in Israel had its place and inheritance, so too does every believer have a spiritual inheritance and a unique role in the body of Christ.